Obituary of George Blouin

George Arthur Joseph Blouin of Gravelbourg, SK passed away on December 4, 2013 at the age of 80 years. George was born into Jean-Adème and Gracia Blouin’s very large French family at the family farm near St. Lazare, MB on September 12, 1933. He was raised with 17 brothers and sisters. His mother died when George was very young and he quit school in Grade 3 to help on the family farm. In his teenage years, George spent time in lumberjack camps. Hard work was something George was always familiar with. At the age of 20, George decided to visit his brother René and sister-in-law Rose in Gravelbourg to play at a dance. At this dance, he noticed a lovely young girl in a red dress. When he returned home, he couldn’t get that lovely young girl out of his mind so he called René to ask about the "Girl in the Red Dress”. The Girl in the Red Dress, Alma Gauthier, was the girl he married on June 18, 1957, in a double wedding ceremony with Alma’s brother Roger and his young bride, Irène. They started their family in St. Lazare where George farmed and built roads. They spent the next 6 years building roads in SK, MB and ON while Alma cooked at the camps. They eventually moved back to Gravelbourg to complete their family of 5 children - Denise, Gérald, Hélène, Paulette and Stella. George worked for the RMs of Shamrock and Gravelbourg, as well as the Town of Gravelbourg before becoming the town’s Jack Of All Trades, helping many people with odd jobs. George was especially known for his sense of humour and his love of music. He played many pranks and was always a wonderful storyteller. Some of his memorable pranks were played on friends and family. All of George’s relatives have many stories to tell about the pranks he pulled! George loved music and was an avid guitar and mandolin player. He played for many bands, as well as his own, and was recognized a few years ago for having played at the Foyer for 50 years. If George was playing, the folks were singing and dancing. There were many family gatherings where dancing and singing went on until the wee hours of the morning. Over the years, George and Alma were blessed with 14 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Nothing lit up George’s face more than to see his great grandchildren arrive for a visit. In their later years, George and Alma enjoyed travelling. Some of the places they visited were Hawaii, Florida and Las Vegas. They also went on an Alaskan cruise and a Caribbean cruise, as well as a bus tour to the Maritimes. Anybody who knew George was aware of his love for animals and their love for him. All family pets followed him around endlessly, although we eventually found out that he sometimes carried treats in his pockets! George will truly be missed for his wonderful sense of humour, his big heart, his sense of giving to his community, his ability to entertain a crowd through his stories and his gift of musical talents. Left to cherish George’s memory is his wife Alma; daughter Denise (Rodney) Dokkebakken, granddaughter Alison (John Paul) Hawkins, great grandchildren Rowan and Madden, grandson Scott (Candice), great grandchildren Reese and Finley, grandson Chad (Chelsey), great grandchildren Morgan and Payton; son Gérald (Lise) Blouin, grandson Jordan (Carlie Russell), granddaughter Chantal (Tim Meyer), great granddaughter Tayva, grandson Jason (Melissa Chabot); daughter Hélène (Michael) Brodeur, grandchildren Candace and Caleb; daughter Paulette Hammel (Andy Farnham), granddaughters Melissa Cossette (Levi Gross), Stephanie Cossette, great grandson Nicholas Morrison; daughter Stella (Jody) Dyrland, grandchildren Cole, Reegan, Joshua and Kabrina; sister Marguerite Huberdeau; sisters-in-law Rose Blouin, Cécile Desrosiers; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents Jean-Adème and Gracia (née Trembley) Blouin; siblings Laurent (Florence) Blouin, Gertrude (John) LeFranc, Horace (Régina) Blouin, René Blouin, Marthe (George) Chartier, Jeanne (Paul) DeCorby, Alfred Blouin, Alma (Fortunat) Chartier, Thérèse (Guillaume) LeFranc, Fernand (Grace) Blouin, Jean-Paul Blouin, Hilda (Harvey) Desrosiers, Rita (Alfred) Berry, Eugène Blouin, Yvonne (Henry) Wittrock, Gérard Deaust, Joseph Blouin; brother-in-law René Huberdeau. Prayer Service was held on Friday, December 6, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. and Funeral Mass on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. both from Our Lady of the Assumption Co-Cathedral, Gravelbourg, SK. Celebrant was Father Joseph Strohhofer. The eulogy was shared by Gérald Blouin. Readers were Alison Hawkins and Chantal Blouin. Prayers of the faithful were shared by Melissa Cossette, Candace Brodeur and Stephanie Cossette. Offertory gifts were presented by Paulette Hammel, Stella and Kabrina Dyrland. Soloist Henri Lepage was accompanied by organist Leona Bourgeois. Active pallbearers were Scott and Chad Dokkebakken, Jordan and Jason Blouin, Caleb Brodeur, Cole, Reegan and Joshua Dyrland. An honour guard was formed by the Knights of Columbus and the Gravelbourg and Bateman Lions. Interment took place at the Gravelbourg Roman Catholic Cemetery. Memorial donations in memory of George to Our Lady of the Assumption Restoration Fund, Box 540, Gravelbourg, SK S0H 1X0 and Masses were greatly appreciated. Online condolences can be shared at HYPERLINK "http://www.pichehawkinsgrondinfuneralchapels.ca" www.pichehawkinsgrondinfuneralchapels.ca. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Piche-Hawkins-Grondin Funeral Chapels, Assiniboia & Gravelbourg.